Mid Session Update
We are through the first two months of the legislative session, and business is starting to pick up. The governor has released the details of his budget, the office of Management and Budget announced the February Revenue forecast, and we are starting to work out the details of our own budget offer. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to update you on where things stand.
February Revenue forecast and Gov. Walz’s budget proposal: On February 28 we received the results of the February economic forecast. It was a mixed bag: Minnesota has a budget surplus, which is good, but there were a number of warning signs for our economy – economic growth is projected to slow substantially, and tax collections are down. Given these warning signs, it is the absolute wrong time to be raising the gas tax, raising license tab fees, raising the motor vehicle sales tax, or any other taxes. Those tax increases will just contribute to slowing down our economy even further.
Left-lane ‘slowpoke’ bill: This bill has generated perhaps more interest than any other I have offered. We’ve all been stuck behind folks driving the speed limit (or below) in the left lane. I have a bill that would effectively eliminate this problem by making the left lane a “passing only” lane. Now obviously there would be exceptions for traffic, for road hazards, for weather, and for other issues. But the principle is important: if you’re getting passed on the right side, you should move over. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Transportation Committee shortly.
Roberds Lake clean up: As you probably know, Roberds Lake was hit especially hard by last September’s devastating storms. Trees, branches, roofing materials, siding, dock parts and more were strewn into and around the lake. I have a bill that would provide funding help clean up debris, which would help offset local fundraising efforts. The state has made a commitment to help communities clean up after severe storm damage and emergencies, and these resources will help restore the lake to prime condition for summer. I am 100% committed to making sure that the lake is safe for the 2019 tourism season. It was heard in the Senate Environment Finance Committee and will laid over for consideration in the committee’s budget bill later in session.
Investing in public infrastructure: I have a long been a supporter of the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure program. BDPI provides grants to Greater Minnesota cities to help growth, to create or retain jobs, or to build the tax base. It is recognized as one of the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s top programs for return on investment. Faribault, Claremont, and Owatonna have received grants from this program in recent years. I have a bill that would add more money to this successful program. It was heard in the Jobs Committee and laid over for possible inclusion in their budget bill.
I would love to hear your feedback on these issues. Please feel free to reach out to me any time at 651-296-0294 or sen.john.jasinski@senate.mn. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state senator.